PHL CTLR DESCRIBED AN EVENT WHEN SHIP MOVEMENT COORD FROM THE ARPT WAS LATE AND AN ACFT WAS ISSUED GAR.

Date: 2006-10 · Aircraft: EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR · Phase: approach

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy

Synopsis

PHL CTLR DESCRIBED AN EVENT WHEN SHIP MOVEMENT COORD FROM THE ARPT WAS LATE AND AN ACFT WAS ISSUED GAR.

Narrative

HERE AT PHL; THERE IS A PROC FOR MARITIME ACTIVITY IN THE DELAWARE RIVER. THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IS SUPPOSED TO CALL AND ADVISE WHEN THERE WILL BE A SHIP IN THE CHANNEL; AND A TIME WHEN TO SUSPEND RWY 35 ARRS. THIS IS RARELY DONE CORRECTLY; AND IT IS LEFT TO THE LCL CTLR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ACFT WILL CLR THE OBSTRUCTION (TALL SHIP) OR NOT. THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE AGREED UPON ORDER. THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE CITY NOTIFIED PHL TWR OF A 10 MIN HEADS UP ON THE SHIP TFC. THE SUPVR SAID THAT THE SHIP WAS ALREADY HERE AND INSTRUCTED MYSELF; THAT IF IN MY OPINION (LCL CTLR) IT WAS SAFE; ALLOW THE ACFT TO LAND; OR I COULD SEND HIM AROUND. THE SHIP WAS RUNNING COMPLETELY DARK; EXCEPT WITH ONE VISIBLE BOW LIGHT; SO IN MY OPINION AN UNSAFE CONDITION EXISTED AND I SENT ACR X AROUND. UNTIMELY COORD BTWN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND FAA MGMNT AT PHL OCCURRED. THIS LATE COORD WAS RELAYED TO MYSELF WHEN THE ACFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL; CAUSING ACR X TO GO AROUND AND OVERFLY THE SHIP. I BELIEVE THAT IF COORD CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A TIMELY MANNER; AND AGREEMENTS CANNOT BE ADHERED TO; THEN RWY 35 ARRS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PROCS CAN BE DEVELOPED.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.